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proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
18 FEBRUARY, 2026
All revved up for car show
Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed members Kerry Duke, Gavin Criddle, president David Berner and Kevin Castle get ready for the annual car show. (Damjan Janevski) 532180_02
For the 18th time, the Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed Car and Bike Show will take place on Sunday 22 February at Apex Park in Altona. And as with the previous 17 versions, the 2026 event will again have more than 300 cars and motorbikes on display. But Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed president David Berner said this year’s show would feature a different type of vehicle too. “We’re going to have a historic tramway bus there this year,” Mr Berner said, adding that members of the Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed helped restore this particular tramway bus, one of dozens that were used to maintain services while Melbourne’s trams were converted from cable to electric in early 20th century. “This would’ve been used in the 40’s and 50’s this bus,” he said. A crowd of more than 900 people is expected to attend this year’s event which runs from 9am-2pm and features face-painting and a sausage sizzle as well as the assortment of vintage vehicles. All surplus funds are donated to various local charities Details: https://hobsonsbayms.com. au/
Club cost clarified By Cade Lucas Hobsons Bay council has denied misleading the public over how much money it has committed to the proposed redevelopment of the Williamstown Swimming and Surf Lifesaving Club (WSLSC). In a letter published by Star Weekly last week, local resident and member of the Save Our Beach community group opposed to the redevelopment, Paul Austin, claimed council’s figures were rubbery. “Its ‘your budget 24-25’ brochure says council is contributing $5.5 million,“ Mr Austin wrote. “But officers now say it’s $3 million.“ In a statement to Star Weekly, a council
spokesperson said the $5.5 million figure was the amount allocated to the project for that particular financial year, including funds contributed by both council and the state government. “It does not mean council is spending $5.5 million of its own money on the project. Council’s contribution to the project is $3 million, while the Victorian Government contribution is $11.349 million,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also denied other allegations made in the letter, including that council planned to keep heritage advice on the project and the amount of money it was prepared to pay to defend it at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), secret.
“Council’s internal heritage advice and any other internal expert advice will be available in the officer assessment of the proposal,” the spokesperson said, adding that the cost of defending the matter at VCAT couldn’t be estimated beforehand. The spokesperson also said the redevelopment would be subject to the same heritage guidelines as any other property. While all parties agree that WSLSC’s existing facility badly needs an upgrade, opponents such as Save Our Beach and Williamstown open water swimming coach Jason Bryce argue the proposal goes too far. “This redevelopment is creating a private
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social beach club using funding earmarked for lifesaving,” Mr Bryce said. WSLSC president Joel Godde said the redevelopment was necessary to ensure the club had a facility that was fit for purpose and future proofed. “Our current facility is not a sporting club, but an emergency management facility from which we deploy rescue services and is a vital hub for the community,” Mr Godde said. “The proposed plans will ensure that our club finally meets the requirements of a modern life saving club.“ Council endorsed concept designs for the redevelopment last year. It is now progressing through the design and planning permit stage.
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